Polymicrobial endocarditis with eight pathogens in an intravenous drug abuser.
A 17-year-old intravenous drug abuser with tricuspid endocarditis required valvulectomy for refractory infection due to 8 different bacterial pathogens. Only one organism was isolated from blood cultures in the first 48 h, and subsequent organisms were not isolated until 9-13 days after hospitalization. The spectrum of pathogens in this patient strengthens previous clinico-bacteriologic observations made in the literature, and emphasizes the need for empiric coverage of oropharyngeal flora in addition to the usual skin flora involved in drug-addict associated endocarditis.
Mah
M W
MW
Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
Shafran
S D
SD
D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous; D014261:Tricuspid Valve